Large turnout powers primary election

Voters make their choices at the Platte Valley Community Center as election judges check people in and keep an eye out during Tuesday's primary election.

For many, the 2018 primary election was one to watch on several levels as both Liz Cheney and John Barrasso fended off challengers within their own party while State Treasurer Mark Gordon narrowly avoided defeat by GOP megadonor Foster Friess. The importance of the primaries in 2018 was evident in the numbers as well.

According to data from the Wyoming Secretary of State following the primary election, on Aug. 21 140,070 registered voters cast a ballot. The last time the number was this high was when 142,231 people voted in the 1994 midterm primaries. During the 2016 primary election, only...